The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition held in Warsaw is notable for its well-justified world wide reputation. However, the fascination with Chopin's music and the different ways in which it is perceived and understood are the reasons why this is not the only Chopin music piano competition in the world. In recent years more and more events of this kind have been organised. In most cases, they are local competitions designed to prepare and assess the participants' future performance in the Warsaw competition.

The quality of the competition is defined by the following criteria: a large number of candidates, more than can be accepted as the organisers must have an option to choose the best pianists from among all those who applied; substantial prize money; organisation of concerts to promote the competition winners; repertory of varying difficulty allowing a full assessment of the participants during the competition; a jury of the highest repute; and a finale with an orchestra.

Here is the list of competitions already known to take place world wide, whose winners give concerts in places connected with the Chopin tradition and take part in festivals and judge the performances of young pianists.

- The National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States, Miami, USA,

every 5 years, since 1975

- The Chopin Youth Piano Competition, Houston, USA,

every 2 years, since 1999

- The Chopin Competition, Göttingen, Germany,

every 2 years, since 1990

- The Chopin Competition, Lima, Peru,

every 2 years, since 2007

International Fryderyk Chopin competitions in Poland

The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Young

People, Szafarnia

The idea to organise piano competitions for children and young people at the Chopin Centre in Szafarnia first appeared in 1992. That year, the first regional level competition was organised on the initiative of the then director of the Centre. A year later, in May 1993, the competition widened its scope and has been taking place since as the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Young People. It is an annual event.

The competition is aimed at talented pianists from Poland and abroad who perform in three age categories: a younger age group (10 - 12), an older age group (13-15), and a late teens age group (16-19). According to the rules of the competition, participants must perform eight pieces of music from memory.

The youngest participants take part in only one stage of the competition, performing a small composition by Bach, an early polonaise by Chopin and one piece of music of the candidate's own choice. The auditions for the remaining two groups take place in two stages. Their programme is diversified and mainly consists of Chopin's works: nocturnes, mazurkas, waltzes, preludes, a sonata allegro by J. Haydn or W.A. Mozart, and one free choice virtuoso style composition.

The young artists' performances are assessed by a jury composed of eminent Polish and foreign professors of music such as, for instance, Tadeusz Chmielewski, Jan Jański, Czesław Stańczyk, Tamara Pospiszyl-Verbruggen of Holland, Oleg Krimmer from Germany, and Motoko Yoshikawa from Japan, who all consider Szafarnia to be an attractive venue. In 2002, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska was elected the chairwoman of the jury to continue the work of the late Halina Czerny-Stefańska.

The winners of the first three prizes obtain prizes in money and non-cash awards provided by the organisers of the competition, other institutions, and private individuals.

Apart from money awards, the winners also receive metal trophy statuettes called "Fryderyk".

In the fifteen years of the competition, altogether over five hundred young pianists from 20 countries took part. Six winners of the first prize later got to the second stage of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.

The organisers cover the cost of accommodation for the participants.

The International Chopin Competition for Children, Zielona Góra

The Chopin competition for children was started in 1999 with its the first one taking place in Jelenia Góra. Since the second competition, it has taken place in Zielona Gora. This competition is a result of cooperation between the Lower Silesia Philharmonic Concert Hall and the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. In 2005 the event became an international one, and subsequent competitions take place every three years. The competition is held in two age groups: the A category up to 12 years, and the B category up to 15 years of age. The auditions for both groups are divided into three stages. In the third stage, the participants are accompanied by the Lower Silesia Symphony Orchestra in Jelenia Góra. The programme for the first two stages features mainly Fryderyk Chopin compositions of varying difficulty in each category. In the third stage, young pianists choose a piece of music from among compositions listed in the competition regulations. The list is selected from pieces of music for piano and orchestra written by Chopin.

The Jury is composed of the most eminent academic teachers of piano working at High Schools of music in Poland, and Professor Kazimierz Gierżod has been the chairman of the Jury since the first competition. The three participants who obtain the highest scores in each age groups are awarded prizes in money and other awards. The participants' teachers are also honoured with monetary prizes.

The inaugural Concert of the International Chopin Competition for Children always features a performance by the winner of the first prize in the B age category from the previous competition, and the organisers cover the cost of accommodation for the participants.

The International Piano Competition "Chopin for the Youngest", Antonin

This takes place at Count Radziwill's Hunting Lodge Palace in Antonin, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and the competition is open to participants of all nationalities in three age categories: I - up to the age of 12, II - up to the age of 15, and III - up to the age of 18.

Pianists of all age groups perform only Chopin's compositions of their choice from a list published in the Competition Regulations. The oldest age group performs in two stages of the Competition, but for age groups I and II only one stage is obligatory. The Jury is appointed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the participants' performance is assessed on a scale of 1-25 points. To be a prize winner, a competitor must have a minimum of 21 points. All winners are given money awards, and all costs connected with the participation in the Competition, such as transport, accommodation and board, are covered by the participants. However, the organisers, offer free transport to the venue for auditions to all participants staying outside Antonin.

The Antonin Competition for the youngest pianists was started in 1992, at first as an annual event, but since 1998 it has been organised every two years.

In the ten events so far, over one hundred pianists from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Japan, Vietnam and Ukraine have received awards.

The Competition is organised by the State Primary School of Music in Ostrzeszow.

These international Chopin piano competitions for young pianists organised in Poland have evolved and developed over the years and are winning ever growing prestige among young pianists preparing for future Chopin Competitions in Warsaw.

International Chopin piano competitions all over the world

Selezione Internationale "Fryderyk Chopin" (The International "Fryderyk Chopin" Competition), Catanzaro Lido, Italy, has been taking place since 1999 and constitutes a special section within the framework of music competitions.

Pianists of all nationalities, aged 27 to 35, are invited to participate.

The one-stage auditions are assessed by an international jury, with the Italians in a majority. The winners obtain money awards and an invitation to give concerts in Italy. The Competition takes place every year. The organiser is the "Fryderyk Chopin" Accademia Musicale.

Concorso Internazionale di Esecuzione Pianistica, Premio "Fryderyk Chopin",(The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition), Racconigi, Italy, has been held every year since 1996.

Premio Fryderyk Chopin is in a special category within the International Piano Competition. Auditions of Chopin's music are held in two stages plus a finale with an orchestra and are open to pianists of all nationalities without an age limit.

The participants perform only Fryderyk Chopin's compositions. The winners receive money awards and invitations to give concerts in Italy. The organiser is Iniziative CAMT, Racconigi, Italy.

Concours de Piano (Piano Competition - including "Chopin"), Brest, France, has been held every year, since 1996. The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities in 21 categories. The highest "Z" category, up to 32 years of age, is called "Chopin", and the participants give a piano recital. Those achieving the highest ranking receive money awards.

The organiser is the Association "D'une musique a l'autre", Brest

International Chopin Piano Competition, Corpus Christi, USA is held every year, since 1993 and this competition is intended for pianists of all nationalities, aged 17- 25. It consists of two stages and the first stage is assessed on the basis of DVDs sent in by the contestants, featuring a recording of a full Chopin music recital, containing compositions listed in the regulations. Usually, these are the same pieces of music as are required during the first stage of the forthcoming Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The recordings are assessed by a jury composed of invited eminent musicians from the United States and Europe. The three participants who get the highest score, are admitted to the final (stage II) and give a concert in Corpus Christi. The Jury decides the order of money awards and the winners take part in a gala concert.

The organiser of the competition is The Fryderyk Chopin Society in Texas.

This has been held every 3 years, since 1983. If any competition coincides with the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw then the Darmstadt European Competition is organised a year later. The first European Competition was an event of a local character. The subsequent ones were open to pianists studying in European countries for at least one year and who were no older than 30.

The Competition is composed of two stages and a final. The repertoire features only Fryderyk Chopin's music. Six participants are chosen for the final and perform one of the piano concertos with an orchestra. There are six money prizes.

The organiser is The Chopin Society in Darmstadt.

The International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia, Tokyo, Japan is intended for Asian pianists, and mainly for the Japanese. It is designed to promote Chopin's music in Asia and has been taking place since the year 2000.

It comprises two competitions, and the first one, above, has 7 categories and takes place every year.

The second competition is entitled The Competition for Candidates for the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and takes place every 5 years. This one has three categories. The participants are also assessed by Polish jurors who are members of the Jury of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The preliminaries of both Competitions take place in Tokyo, Kariya and Fukuoka. Pianists from other countries send in video cassettes with the recorded repertoire. Stages I and II and the Finals of the Competition take place in Tokyo. The highest award is the qualification for the candidate to enter the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, plus payment of travel expenses. In the younger age categories awards are granted in the form of recitals, concerts with orchestra, and money awards.

The organiser is the Executive Committee of the International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia

The International Fryderyk Chopin Competition in Marianske Lazne, the Czech Republic,

is open to participants of all nationalities. The first Competition was organised in1962 and it takes place every two years. Since 1995, it has become an international event.

The pianists are divided into two age groups: up to 18, and 19 -28 years of age. The Competition features two stages and a final with an orchestra. The cost of accommodation and living expenses for participants is covered by the organisers.

The organiser is The Fryderyk Chopin Society in Marianskie Lazne.

The International Fryderyk Chopin Competition for Young Pianists. Moscow, Russian Federation was first organised in 1992 and takes place every four years. The only exception was the fifth competition in 2006 which was held in Beijing within the framework of the Russian Year festival in China. The Competition is open to pianists up to 17 years of age, and of all nationalities.

The first prize amounts to USD 5000. The candidates qualify for the competition on the basis of their CD recordings sent in together with their application form. The Competition consists of three stages and a final round. The finalists are accompanied by the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Russia. The programme features only Fryderyk Chopin compositions. The participants' performance is assessed by an international jury composed of the most prominent pianists and Chopin experts, such as Yevgeny Malinin, Sergei Dorensky, Marcello Abbado, Ana Fuita, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Piotr Paleczny, Arie Verdi, Soo Yong Ann, and Jin-Woo Chung. The Competition jury announces the winners of outstanding talent who later become laureates of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw: for example Rem Urasin won the 4th prize in the year 2000, Dong Hyek Lim and Dong Min Lim tied for the 3rd prize in 2005.

The regulations of the Competition guarantee six prizes to six winners and three special awards for the best performance of mazurkas, a polonaise, and a concerto. Moreover, the winners appear in concerts organised by the Kawai Co. in Germany and Japan, and other concerts in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kaliningrad presented by the Polish Cultural Centre situated in Moscow.

The International Competition of Young Pianists from the Baltic Sea Countries dedicated to the work of Fryderyk Chopin. Narva, Estonia is the first Estonian piano competition devoted to the work of Fryderyk Chopin and took place in 1997 on the initiative of Jakub Wołąsiewicz, the Ambassador of the Polish Republic to Estonia. After its success in the media, a decision was made that, as of 1999, such competitions would be organised every two years for young pianists from the Baltic Sea countries, namely Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Russia. The Competition receives patronage from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education in Estonia, the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Embassy of the Polish Republic, the Embassy of the French Republic, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tallinn and the Polish Radio. Mirosław Pieńkowski, a businessman, is the sponsor of future competitions.

The Competition is held in three age groups: 13 - 15, 16-19 and over 20. The participants of the two younger age groups take part in two stages, and for the oldest group there are three stages. Apart from obligatory compositions by Chopin for solo piano, the younger pianists also perform a piece of music by a contemporary composer of the country of their origin and a polyphonic composition by J.S. Bach; the oldest age group pianists play a classical sonata, an Allegro movement by J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart or L.van Beethoven, and in the finale, a movement (I, II, or III) from one of Chopin's piano concertos, accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Three prizes and diplomas are granted in each age group. From among all first prize winners, the jury selects one laureate who is awarded the Grand Prix, as a token of recognition, in the form of an excursion to Poland to visit places connected with Chopin. The Grand Prix is sponsored by the the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The teachers of the winners are also given awards.

The level of the Competition is very high. It is treated as one of the most important musical events in Estonia. It is the only Fryderyk Chopin competition for young pianists that has become a member of the prestigious EMCY (European Union of Music Competitions for Youth) International Organization located in Munich.

The organiser is the "Ars Baltica" Association

The "Chopin in memoriam" International Piano Competition, Varna, Bulgaria

In 1989, Sofia held the first Bulgarian Fryderyk Chopin Competition for Young Pianists organised as a follow-up to an inspiring idea put forward by the Polish Institute, also in Sofia. Its main aim was to popularise Fryderyk Chopin's music and to bring its performance to a very high standard. Next on the agenda came the popularisation of music by other Polish composers as well. In this part of the world, Bulgaria has always distinguished itself as an important centre of culture, as well as in the field of artistic education. Moving the Competition to Varna, a city with a well-established festival tradition, was designed to enhance the prestige of the event. Over time, this Competition has become the greatest event of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula. During the third competition, a large group of participants from Poland took part in the Competition which provided a direct chance for young Bulgarian pianists and their teachers to become acquainted with the Polish school of piano interpretation. In 2001, the Competition's range was widened to all Balkan countries and also included foreign students in the academies of music studying in those countries, thus becoming an international event. An overall number of 21 participants from Bulgaria, Poland, Macedonia and Albania qualified to perform in The first "Chopin in Memoriam" International Piano Competition.

The participants are divided into two groups: up to 19, and from 20 to 32 years of age. The programme of the Competition consists of three stages. The third stage takes place with the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra. The jury is composed of renowned Bulgarian Chopin experts and lecturers at the Academy of Music in Sofia, with a Polish juror in the chair.

Georgy Pironkov, winner of the first prize in the age group for up to 19 years of age, took part in the second Competition and became a recipient of a grant from the Polish government and began to study in Gdańsk.

The Competition opens with an inaugural concert by a member of the jury.

Auditions of the young pianists are open to the public, with free admission.

The gala concert featuring the winners takes place at the Varna Theatre and is a permanent item incorporated into the programme of the Varna Theatre.

The organisers are the Polish Institute in Sofia and the Chopin Society in Bulgaria.

The International Chopin Competition in Budapest, Hungary

This comprises two series of competitions:

The "Chopin + ......" International Piano Competition (for children up to 15 years of age), and the International Chopin Piano Competition in Budapest (for young people up to 25 years of age).

The Competition takes place every two years, and each competition is dedicated to the memory of Professor György Ferenczy. The auditions in both age groups take place in two stages, and the programme is focused primarily on Fryderyk Chopin's compositions. Additionally, children play pieces of music by Romantic composers connected with Chopin, such as Liszt and Schubert, and some music by a composer from the country of the participant's origin. Young people are expected to perform a polyphonic musical form by J.S. Bach as an extra assignment, and a composition by a Hungarian composer of their own choice, such as Liszt, Bartok, Kodály or others.

The sessions last 30 and 40 minutes. The participants in the Competition come mainly from Hungary and the Slavonic countries, while the jury is drawn from renowned pianists, professors of music from the Vyshehrad Group countries such as Jan Jański, Marta Sosińska, Ida Czarnecka, Vladimira Slavikova, Erkel Tibor, Gyimesi László, Bogányi Gerely, and Mocsári Károly.

The winners of both groups receive three money awards and an invitation to a gala concert at the close of the Competition.

The organiser and sponsor of the prizes is the György Ferenczy Foundation.

The International Chopin Competition in Taipei, Taiwan

This competition takes place every year following the first one in 1991 and the participants come in large numbers from Poland, Russia, France, the USA, Japan, China and Korea. The competition is held in two categories, for adults and young pianists.

The organiser is The Fryderyk Chopin Foundation in Taipei.

The International Chopin Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania

This takes place every three years and the first Festival Competition was held in 1999 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin's death. The participants perform in three age categories which cover the span of the age-bracket from 10 to 19. Most of the young pianists are Poles, Lithuanians, Germans and Byelarussians.

The aim of the Competition is to get to know Polish piano music better, to popularise music by Lithuanian composers, to assist the young pianists in their effort to find a place for themselves in the world of music, and to widen the cooperation between the Lithuanian and foreign High Schools of music.

The participants present pieces of music by Chopin, and other classical and modern composers, such as Lewandowski, Rybicki, Ogiński, and Paderewski. Their interpretations are assessed by an international jury composed of representatives from Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Georgia, and Germany. The work of the young pianists is of a high artistic level and the winners receive money awards. The winners of the first prizes also play with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra. This competition is accompanied by seminars on the interpretation of piano music by Polish composers.

The organiser is The Naujosios Vilnios School of Music in Vilnius in cooperation with the Polish Institute in Vilnius.

The first national competition was organised in 1986 on the initiative of the Embassy of the Polish Republic in Thailand and over the years it has become one of the biggest music events in Bangkok. The Competition takes place every three years and its aim is to discover and support young talent in the performance of piano music, especially that of Chopin. The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities who have lived in Thailand for at least two years before the date of the competition.

Auditions take place in four age categories:10 -12, 13 -15, 16 -18, and 19 - 26.

About twenty participants are chosen in each of these age groups, and are selected by three eminent musicians on the basis of their pre-recorded cassettes.

The programme features mainly compositions by Fryderyk Chopin .

The organiser is The Fryderyk Chopin Society in Bangkok.

The Kościuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition, New York, USA

The Kościuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition was started in 1949 and is held every year. The first one was organised to mark the centenary of Fryderyk Chopin's death and the Competition was inaugurated by Witold Małcużyński, one of the most eminent pianists of the time. The idea was both to present the beauty of Polish music and promote young pianists as well as to provide material support at the beginning of their artistic career. The competition is open to pianists from 16 to 22 years of age, of American nationality, permanent residents in the United States, or foreign students doing a regular course of study at American universities who are holders of a valid student visa. During auditions, the participants present a mixed programme that contains: a major polyphonic work by Bach, a Classical or Romantic sonata, a major musical form by a 19th century composer, three compositions by Chopin, two by Szymanowski, and a free choice of music composed after 1950 by an American or Polish composer, or an American of Polish origin. Winners receive money prizes and offers to take part in concerts organised by the Kościuszko Foundation in the United States and in Poland.

The National Chopin Piano Competition of the US, Miami, USA

This takes place every five years, and since 1975 has occupied the highest rank among the national competitions. The first Chopin Competition in Miami was held in 1975 which marked the beginning of the town's reputation as the centre of Chopin music in the USA. The dates of the sessions of the competition and the regulations are synchronised with the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The auditions are judged by a jury whose members are selected from among outstanding American and European musicians, such as Andrzej Jasiński, Piotr Paleczny, Bella Davidovich, Nelson Freire, Harold Schonberg, Gary Graffman, Ian Hobson, the late Halina Czerny-Stefańska, and Eugene Liszt.

The cost of travel to Warsaw and accommodation in Warsaw are awarded to the highest scoring pianists. Furthermore, the organisers provide an opportunity for the artists to give concerts in the best concert halls in America.

The level of the competition is so high that the Warsaw organisers have often accepted the Miami team, exempting it from any preliminary session. The winners in the Warsaw International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition are: Dean Kramer (fifth prize, 1975), Kevin Kenner (second prize, first prize was not awarded, and a special award for the best performance of the polonaise, 1990), Gabriela Montero (third prize, 1955), and Ning An.

The organiser is The Chopin Foundation, Miami., USA

The Peruvian Competition in Lima, Peru

The First Peruvian Chopin Competition was organised in 2007 by the Embassy of the Polish Republic and the National Music Conservatory and the University in Lima. The event attracted many sponsors and the support of the Philharmonic Radio in Lima, as well as that of the Fryderyk Chopin National Institute in Warsaw. The aim of the Competition is to motivate young Peruvian pianists to interpret the works of the magnificent Polish composer and, in consequence, to support and shape the musical talents that will appear at international piano competitions, and especially at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw.

The participants in the Competition were Peruvian pianists born after 1983, most of them students of the National Music Conservatory in Lima. The jury of the competition, composed of artists and professors, all renowned and enjoying international prestige, was chaired by a well-known Polish pianist, Karol Radziwonowicz. The programme of the two-stage auditions featured compositions by Chopin and Bach and the jury awarded three prizes. The first prize, apart from a money award, also included performances in concert halls in Peru and a fully paid visit to Poland in order to take part in a month-long piano course entitled: "From Fryderyk Chopin to Górecki" organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. That first prize went to Carloso Eduardo Arancibia Noriega, a student at the National Music Conservatory in Lima.

Within the framework of the Competition, "Meetings with Fryderyk Chopin's Music" were also organised for young Peruvian pianists who did not take part in the auditions, and there was a concert given by Karol Radziwonowicz.

The success of the First Peruvian Chopin Competition led to a decision to continue this event and hold regular Chopin Competitions every two years.